Here is the full text of the legislation passed by the Majlis October 13 on the nuclear agreement reached with the Big Six powers; the translation was done by Reuters.
Much of the text is little more than rhetoric. For example, Article 7 directs the government to strengthen national defense capabilities, but provides no funds or authority for anything new. And Article 1 simply restates what has been the government’s declared policy for many years.
The two clauses that might have real impact are highlighted and explained in the footnotes.
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According to this bill, and in the event of its final approval, the government may, in the framework of the Supreme National Security Council’s resolutions, voluntarily implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if it abides by the following orders and obligations:
Article 1. According to the Supreme Leader’s fatwa, no government in Iran has the right to produce or use nuclear weapons and the government is charged with actively following international nuclear disarmament policy and actively participating in all international, legal and diplomatic efforts to save humanity from the danger of nuclear weapons and their proliferation, including by creating zones free of weapons of mass destruction, especially by creating a Middle East regional alliance free of nuclear weapons and particularly the nuclear disarmament of the Zionist regime.
Article 2. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is based on cooperation and reciprocity. Any steps built on pressure or threats under any pretext, as determined by the Supreme National Security Council, will result in [Iran] re-evaluating this cooperation. In that case, subject to the approvals of that Council, reciprocal steps should be considered.
Article 3. The government is charged with closely observing any lack of commitment by the other side with regard to the effective lifting of sanctions, or the restoring of lifted sanctions or imposition of [new] sanctions for any reason1, and [in this event] must take reciprocal steps to preserve the rights of the Iranian nation, stop voluntary cooperation and rapidly expand the Islamic Republic of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program such that within two years the country’s uranium enrichment capacity increases [from 9,000 today] to 190,000 SWU [separative work units]. The Supreme National Security Council will be the responsible authority for this topic.
Article 4. The government is charged with pursuing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program with regard to trade and industry, including in the fields of enrichment and research and development, in accordance with the long-term plan of the country’s Atomic Energy Organization. The country’s Atomic Energy Organization must, within two months of the adoption of this law, obtain the Supreme National Security Council’s approval of a 15-year, long-term national plan in the fields of enrichment and research and development, and present this plan to the International Atomic Energy Agency so that it shall meet the fuel needs of the country’s power and research reactors.
Article 5. The [re]design of the Arak heavy water reactor and the necessary exchange of enriched reserves are subject to drawing up final superseding contracts and receiving a guarantee of their implementation.
Article 6. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s oversight should be carried out in the framework of international regulations and with consideration of the country’s national security interests that the Supreme National Security Council specifies. The government must ensure, in implementing the JCPOA and afterwards, fully to preserve secrets and classified information, specifically those in the military and security areas. The level of cooperation with the Agency depends on the Agency taking precautionary steps necessary to guarantee this. No access to military sites or individuals [nuclear scientists] for the Agency’s oversight is allowed under the pretext of the JCPOA, unless approved on a detailed and case-by-case basis by the Supreme National Security Council2.
Article 7. With regard to preserving the country’s security and national interests, and protecting its allies in the fight against terrorists, the government and armed forces are charged with advancing seriously the necessary measures to strengthen the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defense capability in all offensive and defensive realms including air, sea, land and missiles; creating a defense against nuclear attacks; building nuclear generators, nuclear batteries, and neutron imaging; and pursuing nuclear medicine.
Article 8. In the framework of the Supreme National Security Council’s resolutions, the government and other governing and public bodies are charged with observing the measures ensuring that America and other foreign governments are not allowed to act opportunistically or abusively in the country as a result of implementing the JCPOA, and that no expedient for political, economic, cultural or security influence should fall into the hands of global arrogance [the United States and the West].
Article 9. The government is charged with spending the unfrozen financial assets in a legal framework in support of the resistance economy and stimulating production and high-priority investments, with a focus on the needs of the private sector and strengthening the National Development Fund.
Note: The Foreign Minister is charged with providing a report every three months on the process of implementing the agreement to the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, and this Committee is charged with presenting a report every six months on the implementation of the JCPOA to the full Majlis.
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1 Many members of the US Congress are talking about imposing new sanctions on Iran for its missile programs, terrorist activities and human rights violations—rationales other than the nuclear program since new sanctions on the nuclear program are barred by the agreement. But this text orders a response to any new sanctions imposed regardless of the rationale.
2 This text bars inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency from visiting any Iranian military bases, which violates the nuclear agreement. But this text then adds a qualification, saying that such visits are allowed if approved by the Supreme National Security Council, which is controlled by the Supreme Leader. So, the visits will go forward.
